The story behind Las Brujas starts far from Government Street. Las Brujas is the name of a small farm where four generations of the Villa family lived. Owner David Villa, his grandfather and his aunt were all born in the original farmhouse, and coffee bushes grew in the shade of the trees along the pastures. Caretakers harvested, hulled and dried those beans to sell in town, and David's father remembers helping fill the sisal sacks.

Now that name hangs over a coffee shop and small grocery in Mid City, at 3101 Government St., right between Elsie's and Radio Bar.

Why air-roasted matters

Las Brujas air-roasts its coffee. Instead of tumbling on hot metal, the beans float and turn in a chamber of hot air, which roasts them more evenly. The shop says the result is a clean, sweet, aromatic cup without bitter, burnt notes.

Two coffees are currently offered by the bag. The Colombia "El Tiple" Huila Supremo, a medium roast from small family farms in Colombia's Huila region, carries notes of chocolate, black cherry, toasted almond and brown sugar. The seasonal "El Abrazo" dark roast blends Brazil, Guatemala and Sumatra beans for nutty chocolate and soft fruit. Bags start at $21 for 12 ounces, come whole bean or ground, and are also sold in 3- and 5-pound sizes.

More than coffee

The grocery side is stocked with local and small-batch staples, including pastured eggs, St. Bruno Bakery sourdough, natural wines, and local pastured milk from Feliciana's Best Creamery, which the shop sells and uses in all its lattes, with Sinagra Family Farms as the premium option. It's an easy way to pick up breakfast for tomorrow while you wait on today's cup.

When to go

Las Brujas opens at 6 a.m. Tuesday through Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, closing at 4 p.m. each day. It's closed Mondays. Questions? Email [email protected] or send a message through the shop's website. Bring a tote for the eggs and bread.

Photo courtesy of Las Brujas Coffee & Grocery.